BUILD Hardware check X9SRH-7F

[johatfie]

Ok, I'm building my first freenas box. This is for home use. I will be backing up half a dozen computers. I plan to store a lot of media and have a plex server serving 2-3 screens at a time. It will host multiple VM's and provide block storage for several more. I also plan to use it to PXE boot.

The one thing I'm really not sure about is the case. I think it only supports SAS1. Unfortunately, I've already bought the case - before I did sufficient research. Also, I'm not sure how the SAS cable works or if I need accessories to go with it. Will it plug straight into this motherboard without having to buy additional cables or M1015 cards?

I plan to put all the drives in straight raid-1 mirrors. For several reasons,

• performance - mirrors offer the best performance. Period. :)
• flexibility - mirrors can be split if needed
• easy expandability - you only have to buy 2 drives at a time to expand the pool

Do I need to consider a ZIL or an l2arc?

Thanks for any advice you might offer.


motherboard: X9SRH-7F $389.99
http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php?p=MB-X9SRHB&c=fr&hash=6838dvEiam3Zw4B6qdWb5jteqrv1zOKM8uN+5Pw1CdZqnODDVkp5qbuQjhI8D8GTc/2xnTEs3hXu+PfAkkNpjIMVqxFBFb1nK2YXURnpeiXM+mzUdu08PAy0be/310TfZS75NZKlDPsDTe5A&gclid=CjwKEAjw86e4BRCnzuWGlpjLoUcSJACaHG55MEcHU2uBlqE-wdlScU7hzOPOLShvnPVmrpl6yFBoVRoCFyHw_wcB

cpu: E5-1620v2 $343.94
http://www.amazon.com/dp/CM80635012/?tag=ozlp-20

memory: 2 x 16GB 1866MHz ECC Reg 2Rx4 Samsung M393B2G70QH0-CMA Memory SuperMicro MEM-DR316L-SL02-ER18
http://www.memoryamerica.com/16gb-pc3-14900-ddr3-1866mhz-ecc-registered-cl13-240-pin-dual-rank-m393b2g70qh0-cma-samsung-dimm-memo.html?utm_source=16gb-pc3-14900-ddr3-1866mhz-ecc-registered-cl13-240-pin-dual-rank-m393b2g70qh0-cma-samsung-dimm-memo&utm_medium=shopping+engine&utm_campaign=googleproducts&gclid=CjwKEAjw86e4BRCnzuWGlpjLoUcSJACaHG55YA27KXDgn94mVAVpQt3qplLekhCEuIpnOCiPhV_x1xoCoMfw_wcB

Case: 4U Supermicro 24 bays Storage Server Chassis SC846E1-R900B 846EL1 SAS Expander
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SUPERMICRO-...H-24x-TRAYS-/171527440510?hash=item27efd5087e

Drives: WD Red Pro 4TB NAS Hard Disk Drive - 7200 RPM SATA 6 Gb/s 64MB Cache 3.5 Inch - WD4001FFSX $211 x 6-8
http://www.amazon.com/Red-Pro-Hard-Disk-Drive/dp/B00LO3KRM8/ref=sr_1_4?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1460337363&sr=1-4&keywords=western+digital+red&refinements=p_n_feature_keywords_four_browse-bin:8067154011

 

[nightshade00013]

To start off the board you are looking at has SAS ports built in but you will need a couple reverse breakout cables to interface with the backplane in the case.

That from what I am finding is a SAS 1 expander in the case however and will not support the drive size you are looking at. If you want to stick with a supermicro case you will want one with something like BPN-SAS2-846EL1 in it. You could also get the case you were looking at and find a replacement SAS2 expander in it.


For the drives you can probably look at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145912 annd save a few bucks. Warranty is slightly shorter but you will still get a 7200rpm drive and if you wait for a sale you can catch them for 140 each possibly a little less.

One of the Guru's who deal with all the Zil and L2ARC experience like @cyberjock or @Bidule0hm may have to chime in.